A service of worship for Advent Sunday

Philip leads our online community through the door into Advent. He reflects on a typcially mysterious, apocalyptic Gospel passage, and seeks to find its hope and depth of love.

Advent Book recommendation:
'Listening to the Music of the Soul' by Guli Frances-Deqhani

My sisters and brothers, children of God
in Advent the Church bids us prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ; a coming that we recall in the Child of Bethlehem;
All a coming that we experience in the gift of his Spirit,
in the bread of Communion,
in the joy of human lives that are shared;

a coming we wait for when God makes all things new in Christ.
All Let us leave behind the darkness of sin, walk in the
light that shines on our path, and renew within
ourselves the hope of glory to which God beckons us.

Advent Candle Week 1: The Patriarchs and Matriarchs
... response:

God of Abraham and Sarah,
and all the matriarchs and patriarchs of old,
you are our Father and Mother, too.
Your love is revealed to us in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Son of David.
Help us in preparing to celebrate his birth
to make our hearts ready for your Holy Spirit
to make a home among us.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world.

All Amen.
Lord Jesus, light of the world,
born in David’s city of Bethlehem,
born like him to be a king:
be born in our hearts at Christmas,
be King of our lives today. Amen.

Romans 13
11Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; 13let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Matthew 24
36‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Penitence
When Christ comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins, and the sins of the world.

You bring our fear into the light of love; but so often we prefer to stay asleep in the shadows … Lord, have mercy.
All Lord, have mercy.

Your coming promises hope and healing for the earth; we turn our backs on our living planet, and its peoples … Christ, have mercy.
All Christ, have mercy.

You come near in the vulnerable, we choose to worship idols of wealth celebrity and power, and see only our own needs … Lord, have mercy.
All Lord, have mercy.

We travel in time;
All God, walk with us into eternity.

We travel in hope;
All God, sing with us through the darkness.

We travel in wonder;
All God, surprise us with holy joy.

As we await our coming Saviour,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All In the name of Christ, Amen.